The immune response after vaccination in recipients against different subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus (Flaviviridae: Orthoflavivirus)

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Abstract

Introduction. There are three antigenic subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV): the European, Far Eastern and Siberian subtypes. The article discusses the topic of cross-protective neutralizing antibodies against different subtypes of TBEV.

Objective ‒ the study of the immune response after vaccination against TBE in recipients immunized with Russian-made vaccines in relation to Siberian, Far Eastern, and European subtypes.

Materials and methods. 100 serum samples obtained from recipients vaccinated against TBE. ELISA reagent kit was used to detect IgG antibodies to TBEV. The neutralization reaction on cell culture was used to analyze the titer of neutralizing antibodies.

The following TBEV strains were used: Sofyin; Vasilchenko; Absettarov; Ekb_1887_1.

Results. A decrease in the levels of neutralizing antibodies against heterologous strains compared to the vaccine strain was observed: for the Siberian strains Ekb_1887_1 and the Vasilchenko, a decrease was of 3.9 and 2.4 times, respectively; for the European strain, a 4.9-fold decrease compared to vaccine strain was observed. In case when IgG antibody titers were below 1 : 500, the titers of antibodies to TBEV strains heterologous to the vaccine did not exceed the minimum detectable value of 1 : 10. For individuals with IgG antibody titers below 1 : 100, antibodies to Sofyin strain were not detected. Individuals with reduced titers of virus-specific antibodies more often had deviations from the recommended vaccination schedule.

Conclusion. Given the widespread distribution and genetic variability of the Siberian subtype, as well as the limited cross-neutralization capabilities of existing vaccines, the task of developing a combined vaccine that includes antigens of several virus subtypes seems relevant.

About the authors

Ekaterina A. Orlova

M.P. Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Drugs of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Polio Institute)

Email: orlova_ea@chumakovs.su
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-4175-0493

Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitis

Russian Federation, 108819, Moscow

Alla L. Ivanova

M.P. Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Drugs of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Polio Institute)

Email: ivanova_al@chumakovs.su
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-3086-0581

Employment

Russian Federation, 108819, Moscow

Vladimir A. Mishchenko

Federal Scientific Research Institute of Viral Infections «Virome» Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing

Email: mischenko_va@niivirom.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4280-283X

Researcher

Russian Federation, 620030, Ekaterinburg

Ivan P. Bykov

Federal Scientific Research Institute of Viral Infections «Virome» Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing

Email: i.p.bykov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5157-646X

Ph.D. in medicine, Senior Researcher

Russian Federation, 620030, Ekaterinburg

Ivan V. Vyalykh

Federal Scientific Research Institute of Viral Infections «Virome» Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing

Email: vyalykh_iv@niivirom.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3123-8359

Ph.D. in veterinary medicine, Head of the Laboratory of Vector-borne Viral Infections and Tick-borne Encephalitis, Lead researcher

Russian Federation, 620030, Ekaterinburg

Natalia L. Fadeeva

5th Military Clinical Hospital of the Troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation

Email: ntellina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0008-3944-3219

the head of the Admissions Department

Russian Federation, 620030, Ekaterinburg

Veronica V. Patlusova

5th Military Clinical Hospital of the Troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation

Email: patlusovavv@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0008-5493-7655

Ph.D., Head of the Insurance Medicine Group

Russian Federation, 620030, Ekaterinburg

Mikhail F. Vorovitch

M.P. Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Drugs of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Polio Institute)

Email: vorovich_mf@chumakovs.su
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7367-6357

Ph.D. in biology, Head of the Encephalitis Vaccine Department, Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Tick-borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitis

Russian Federation, 108819, Moscow

Nadezhda M. Kolyasnikova

M.P. Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Drugs of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Polio Institute)

Author for correspondence.
Email: kolyasnikova_nm@chumakovs.su
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9934-2582

Doctor of Medicine, Head of the Laboratory of Tick-borne Encephalitis and Other Viral Encephalitis, Leading Researcher

Russian Federation, 108819, Moscow

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Copyright (c) 2025 Orlova E.A., Ivanova A.L., Mishchenko V.A., Bykov I.P., Vyalykh I.V., Fadeeva N.L., Patlusova V.V., Vorovitch M.F., Kolyasnikova N.M.

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